Heavy movements of Swifts were recorded during the month photo by Dave Barker ©

This Greenshank was seen on passage photo by Dave Barker ©

At Thornton Moor Watchpoint, both Common and Arctic Terns (1st) and an adult Yellow-legged Gull were seen. At Barden a flock of 35 Common Scoter passed through and an Osprey made one of the many appearances during the first few days of August. Crossbills were recorded at Timble (2nd). A Common Tern was recorded passing through Shipley (3rd) and on the next day the first of this year’s migrants were at Fly Flatts with two young Wheatears birds being seen. More young Wheatears were seen at Intake Gate and Hawksworth Moor (6th) and four were in the vicinity of Fly Flatts (9th). A Grasshopper Warbler was singing in tall grass on the north side of Doe Park Reservoir (5th). By the 6th, Swifts were moving SW in good numbers, passing Thornton Moor at the rate of over 100 per hour. Paul Clough is a good place to watch for migrating birds with some interesting reports including six Spotted Flycatchers (8th) and up to twelve Willow Warblers (9th). There was a Greenshank and a Ringed Plover and up to seven Snipe stayed for a few days at Thornton Moor (9th). Redstarts have been hard to find this summer but a nice male was on show at Beaverdyke Reservoir (15th).

A Hybrid Garganey had been present at Otley Wetlands since the 18th, a Yellow-legged Gull and two Yellow Wagtails were seen there on the 21st and an Osprey went through the Wharfe Valley on that day. The Otley Reserve was well watched at this time as members recorded four Whimbrel on the 22n, a juvenile Caspian Gull (23rd), an adult Mediterranean Gull (24th), five Ringed Plovers and five Dunlin (25th). On the 23rd a Common Buzzard was seen from Thornton Village. Wheatears continued to be seen throughout the area, with a high of twelve at Trough Lane along with three Whinchat (25th).

A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker had been seen throughout the summer at Stockbridge and was again present on the 27th. A Swift was also recorded there and the following day a Whimbrel flew over Harden village calling as it headed south.